Apparatus, System, and Method for Folding, Stowing, and Deploying Skis

ABSTRACT

A foldable ski is part of a system for traversing over snow and ice covered terrain. The ski is configured to be moved from a deployed condition and shortened in length to a stowed condition. Thus, stowing the ski enables it to fit in small spaces such as in a snowmobile compartment or backpack pocket. The ski is constructed with a plurality of hinges, sections, and locking mechanisms configured to move the sections between the deployed condition and the stowed condition. The ski may also include a mechanism for pivotally coupling footwear to the ski, whether a user is wearing hardshell boots or softshell boots for hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, and/or snowboarding. The mechanism for coupling footwear may include an adjustable binding platform capable of position adjustment and/or length adjustment.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/894,541 entitled “FOLDING SKIS FOR PACKS AND SNOWMOBILES AND AN ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING PLATE FOR FOOTWEAR”, filed on Mar. 13, 2007 for Lane Ekberg, and a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/017,949 entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR A COLLAPSING APPROACH SKI”, filed on Jan. 22, 2008 for Lane Ekberg, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/888,700 entitled “FOLDING APPROACH SKI SYSTEM”, filed Feb. 7, 2007 for Lane Ekberg, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to devices used for traversing ice and snow, and more particularly relates to collapsible skis that can be easily stowed and carried between uses.

2. Description of the Related Art

A number of collapsible skis have been tried over the years. Some folding skis, which incorporate hinges, are known. However, these skis are patterned after bulky downhill designs. Bindings for securing hard shelled boots on downhill skis are known.

The collapsible or foldable skis of the past predominantly have two sections that are joined near a center of the ski by hinges and/or locking mechanisms. The locking mechanisms are for holding the collapsible or folding skis in a deployed configuration, but typically have weak points and are prone to breakage under regular conditions of use for skis.

Other devices used for traversing ice or snow include snow shoes. However, snow shoe devices are limited in their sliding and maneuvering capability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Since it is cumbersome to pack full-length skis and because of the large space requirement, some folding skis have been developed. However, the skis typically fold approximately in half such that they are at least 50% as long as full-length skis. These skis typically have hardshell boot bindings, which take up additional space. As such, these skis are too long and bulky to fit into a snowmobile or backpack pocket. Furthermore, these skis are structurally very complex and expensive.

Snowmobile enthusiasts sometimes experience engine trouble or machine breakage. The snowmobile may become stuck with no way to free the snowmobile. These situations can be life-threatening when may require a user to hike for help because they have not brought appropriate foot traveling devices that will enable the user to hike for help. It is difficult to walk or otherwise maneuver in deep fresh snow without skis or snow shoes. Moreover, even if a user desired to pack snowshoes or skis, those devices, as they are known in the prior art, are not capable of being stowed and fit into compartments of snowmobiles or backpacks.

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus, system, and method that have the benefits of skis and the benefits of snow shoes. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would include foldability such that the apparatus may be a ski or snow shoe that can be folded into a compact volume that is less than half the length of the skis or snow shoes. However, when deployed, the apparatus should have excellent maneuverability in ice, snow, and powder conditions.

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available folding skis and snow shoes. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an apparatus, system, and method for stowing skis or snow shoes in a compact volume that will easily fit in a back pack or snow mobile compartment, and which overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art. Indeed, the apparatuses of the present invention enable a user to more easily climb, slide, turn, and otherwise maneuver when traversing ice, snow, or power.

In a simple form, an apparatus for traversing ice and snow in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes a collapsible body having a bottom surface for traversing ice and snow covered terrain and a top surface for supporting a user on the ice or snow. The apparatus also includes at least two hinge areas such that the body is divided into at least three sections by the two hinge areas. The apparatus also has at least two separate locking mechanisms on the body proximate to the two hinge areas. The locking mechanisms are configured to hold the at least two hinge areas in a deployed mode with the sections aligned with each other when locked. The locking mechanisms are also configured to release the two hinge areas in a collapsed mode, thus enabling the sections to be stowed in a mutually overlying configuration when unlocked.

The apparatus may further include an adjustable attachment mechanism coupled to the top surface for adjustably attaching footwear to the top surface of the apparatus. In one embodiment, the adjustable attachment mechanism has a mounting platform configured to secure footwear to the apparatus. In this embodiment, the platform is releasably coupled to the top surface of the apparatus. The platform may have at least one strap attached thereto for engaging hard or soft shelled footwear

In another simple form, a system for selectively deploying and stowing a device for traversing snow or ice in accordance with embodiments of the invention includes a body having a plurality of sections movable between a deployed mode forming a ski or snow shoe and a stowed mode in which the sections are collapsed into overlying relation relative to each other. The system also has at least one releasable locking mechanism fixing at least one of the sections relative to another of the sections in the deployed mode. The system further includes a binding mounting mechanism disposed on a front half of the body on at least one of the sections when the sections are in the deployed mode.

In one embodiment of the system, the binding mounting mechanism has a plurality of binding position elements. The binding position elements are configured for pivotally coupling footwear at a plurality of positions generally corresponding to the binding position elements along the body. The plurality of binding position elements are positioned on the front half of the body in the deployed mode.

In still another simple form, a method of using a collapsible device for traversing snow or ice in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include unfolding at least three sections of a ski or snow shoe and locking the at least three sections in an aligned, generally rigid, deployed configuration. The method may also include coupling footwear to the device at a position in a front half of the device. Coupling the footwear may include adjustably coupling a binding platform to one of a plurality of binding mounting elements on the front half of the device. The method may also include unlocking and folding the three sections into a compact stowed configuration. Folding may include moving the sections and forming them into the compact stowed configuration with the sections in overlying relation to each other and having a length less than approximately 45% of a length of the device in the deployed configuration.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a top plan view illustrating one embodiment of a pair of the little skis in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a top plan view of one of the skis of FIG. 1A with a front and rear sections folded behind a center section;

FIG. 2A is a side view of the folding ski of FIG. 1A in a deployed mode;

FIG. 2B is a side view of the folding ski of FIG. 1A in a stowed mode, and having a binding platform coupled thereto;

FIG. 3A is a bottom plan view of the folding ski of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3B is a top plan view of an adjustable binding platform in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a folding ski in a stowed mode in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a exploded perspective view of the folding ski and detachable binding platform in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a folding ski with five folding sections and for a hinge areas in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a foldable ski showing details that may be applied to regions such as region 7A in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 7B is a detailed perspective view of a locking element or tab shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7A

FIG. 7C is a side view of the ski of FIG. 7A showing details that may be applied to regions such as region 7C in the embodiment of FIG. 2A; and

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of an axle for mounting a binding platform to a ski in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of various embodiments and user selections, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a pair of folding skis 1. Each ski 1 has a front hinge area 2 and a rear hinge area 3 that provide two folding points and allow the ski to collapse from a deployed mode or configuration shown in FIG. 2A into a stowed mode or configuration shown in FIG. 2B. The folded or collapsed ski 1 of FIG. 2B shows an example of how compact the folding ski 1 can become in the stowed configuration, making it possible to fit the ski 1 into very small compact spaces such as a snowmobile compartment or backpack pockets. Hinge locks or locking mechanisms 4 on each of the skis 1 may include pins or braces 6 that may move back and forth to lock or unlock the front hinge area 2 and rear hinge area 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the ski 1 has a deployed length in the deployed mode and a collapsed length in the collapsed mode that is substantially shorter than the deployed length. In fact, the collapsed length is less than or equal to approximately 45% of the deployed length. The collapsed length may be less than or equal to approximately 40% of the deployed length, or less than or equal to 35% of the deployed length. In one embodiment, the collapsed length is less than or equal to approximately 33% of the deployed length. In alternative embodiments, the ski can be shortened to a length that is at least 55% shorter than the overall deployed length. In some embodiments, the skis have a folding mechanism which allow the ski to be compacted in overall length to at less than or equal to ⅓ its original length. In other embodiments, the ski can be compacted to smaller percentages of the deployed length by incorporating more sections separated by hinge areas and having locking mechanisms that span the hinge areas and releasably lock the various sections in the deployed configuration.

Hinge locks 4 maintain locked or unlocked the positions through retaining mechanisms. Retaining mechanisms may include a tether 8 capable of coupling to a tether hole 11 to hold the hinge locks 4 in an unlocked folding position. Lock mechanisms may also coupled to tether hole 10 to hold the hinge locks 4 in a locked hinge or deployed configuration. The hinge locks 4 may include bolts or braces 6 guided in slider slots or channels formed at least in part by keepers 12 located on a top surface of the skis 1. It is to be understood that such keepers 12 with their channels may be formed by a molded polycarbonate protrusion on the upper surface, for example. Other materials forming the keepers and channels may include added elements including any of a variety of metals. A tab 20 prevents the braces 6 from sliding out of the slider slots or channels when the retaining mechanism is not tethered to any of the tether holes.

A mounting plate or binding platform 26, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, may be releasably coupled to a center section 14 of each ski 1 through an axle 16 and mounting holes 18 located on the center section of the skis 1. This binding platform 26 may provide a footwear base with which to bind footwear of a user to the ski. A pivot joint formed by the axle 16 and any oppositely facing pair of holes 18 may be positioned within the front half of the footwear base. The pivot joint may thus have the axle 16 mounted transversely on the ski the front half of the binding platform 26. The front half of the footwear base may be referred to as the toe end of the footwear base. This positioning of the pivot joint on the front end of the platform 26 allows the heel end to rotate up away from the ski with each step taken by the user. A spring may be placed under the heel end of the platform to provide a lifting force to a heel of the user. Such a spring actually provides a negative weight in commonly used terms of the art. This is because a common measure in the art deals with weights in ounces or pounds, for example, that a user must lift each time he or she takes a step. A spring or suspension under the heel also provides a reactive force that lifts a tip of the ski 1 and thus aids the user in walking.

The binding platform 26 may be coupled to the ski 1 by a quick-release mechanism to allow the ski 1 to fold more compactly. To detach the binding, a user would unlock the quick-release mechanism. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the binding platform 26 may be permanently attached to the folding ski 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-2B, in some embodiments of the invention, the toe end of footwear base or binding platform 26 is positioned with approximately two thirds of the length of the ski 1 behind it similar to a snowshoe. In fact the ski 1 may alternatively be termed a skiing or downhill snowshoe. Placement of the binding platform in the front half of the body of the ski 1, causes the front tip of the ski 1 to move upward when the user raises his foot up to take a step. This has the distinctive advantage of helping a user maneuver through deep and/or powdery snow. At the same time, a user can still have a measure of mechanical advantage to enable him or her to control the skis 1 in turns, for example. This is increasingly so as the pivotal connection is moved rearward on the toe end of the binding platform 26.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-2B, the skis 1 may have three sections including the center section 14, at least one front section 22, and at least one rear section 24 that can be folded into mutually overlying relation. A left-hand ski 1 as viewed in FIG. 1A is shown with the braces 6 inserted through keepers 12 on each of the center, front, and a rear sections 14, 22, 24 such that the sections are locked in the deployed configuration. On the other hand, the right ski 1 as viewed in FIG. 1A has the braces 6 retracted such that they do not extend into the keepers 12 on the center section 14, thus showing an unlocked configuration. From the unlocked position, the front and rear sections 22, 24 can be folded downward, and are out of view behind the center section 14 in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2A is a side view of the folding ski 1 in a deployed configuration illustrating a pivoting mounting plate 26 with footwear retaining straps 28 coupled to the mounting plate. The folded ski 1 is also shown in a folded condition illustrated in FIG. 2B with the binding platform 26 still attached. The mounting plate 12 can be quick-released from the main folding ski 1 body for easier pack storage. Multiple pivot positions can be utilized by selectively placing the axle 16 through the mounting plate and any of a plurality of sets of holes 18 to couple the binding platform 26 to the folding skis 1. In this regard, the binding mounting mechanism is an adjustable binding mounting mechanism disposed on at least one of the sections. The binding mounting mechanism is adjustable because the binding mounting mechanism is configured to adjustably support the binding platform 26 in one of a plurality of mounting positions.

As shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1A-2B, the adjustable binding mounting mechanism includes a pair of upwardly protruding flanges 29 on each ski 1. The pair of flanges 29 on each ski has respective sets of holes 18 in the flanges for selectively supporting the platform 26 at positions corresponding to oppositely facing pairs of holes 18 in the flanges 29.

FIG. 3A is a bottom plan view of the folding ski 1 showing the positions of the hinge areas 2, 3. An optional metal edge 30 may also be used in the design of the ski 1. The three sections 14, 22, 24 of ski are shown in the illustration of FIG. 3A, which fold up very compactly. More sections can be used for longer ski configurations such as for cross-country skis or alternate configurations.

As shown in FIG. 3B, an adjustable binding 33 may include the binding platform having a two-piece plate 36 with a plurality of hole settings 39, 40, which can be aligned and interconnected to adjust the plate 36 of the binding 33 to a particular boot size. A rib 43 holds a toe of the footwear on the adjustable mounting plate 36 and a rib 44 holds a heel of the footwear on the mounting plate 36. A strap mount 47 is flexible and is configured to at least partially envelope the footwear of the user. Strap mount holes 49 receive ends of straps 28, as shown in FIG. 2B. To set the binding to a desired foot size the user must correlate the boot size with the length of the adjustable mounting plate by aligning the correct hole settings 39, 40 and inserting hardware into the correct hole settings.

Referring back to FIG. 2B, the mounting plate or binding platform 26, 36 can be left on the folding ski 1. The hinge lock mechanisms can also be clearly seen in their folded positions. The side view of FIG. 2B shows the braces 6 of the hinge lock mechanisms retracted from the channels in keepers 12 disposed on the center section 14. The hinge areas 2, 3 may include two pivot axles each to allow double pivoting in the hinges for a floating hinge structure. Pivoting in at least two places enables generally parallel overlying or overlapping structure of the different ski sections in the folded configuration. A heel lifter 55 and a heel riser 58 may optionally be incorporated to keep the heel of the user elevated while going up steep ascents and thus relieve stress on the lower leg and Achilles region of the user. One or both of the heel lifter 55 and heel riser 58 may be made integral with the structure forming the keepers 12. Alternatively, the heel riser may be in the form of a bail or other structure that can be moved from a low profile position to a projected position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a foldable ski in a folded or stowed condition, in accordance with an alternative embodiment. As shown, a front section 22 of the ski is folded on top of the center section 14 in this embodiment. The rear section 24 is folded under the center section 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the folded configuration has a length of approximately ⅓ of the length of the ski 1 in the deployed configuration. Other folding configurations are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, both the front and rear sections 22, 24 may be folded on top of the center section 14. In embodiments having more than three sections, an accordion folding configuration may be undertaken.

FIG. 5 is an exploded side perspective view of the folding ski 1, mounting plate 26, and mounting pivot axle 16. The pivot axle 16 is thrust through mounting holes 18 located on alternative mounting rails or flanges 61 extending upwardly from a top side of the ski 1 and a pivot mount 64 located on a bottom of the toe end of the mounting plate or binding platform 26. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the flanges 61 are disposed on two of the sections and an intermediate hinge area. The braces 6 of the hinge lock mechanism can easily be slid out of channels in the keepers to allow the hinges of the hinge areas 2, 3 to be unlocked, thus allowing the ski 1 to fold into a compact size for packing. The heel lifter 55 can be mounted to the top side of the ski 1 by fasteners that can be inserted in mounting holes 65. From the illustration of FIG. 5 in the previous discussion regarding the mounting of the binding platforms 26, 36, it is to be understood that a mounting area for footwear and binding apparatuses is included in embodiments of the present invention. The binding platform 26, 36 may be pivotally supported on the ski in order to allow the foot of the user to move in a walking motion. That is, the pivotal connection of the binding platform 26, 36 enable us the heel of the user to move in arcs in an upward and a downward direction. Additionally or alternatively, the heel may be temporarily or permanently locked in a predetermined position.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 1A, which show the locking mechanisms 4 in detail. For example, a first keeper 12 having a first channel 66 is disposed on the top surface on the forward section 22 of the three sections of the body as shown in FIG. 1A. A second keeper 12 having a second channel 66 is disposed on the top surface on the center section 14 of the three sections of the body. The brace 6 may be an inflexible moveable locking brace configured to slideably engage the first channel and the second channel by spanning one of the hinge areas 2. Analogous relations apply to each of the locking mechanisms in which the locking mechanisms each have at least one brace 6 and at least two keepers forming respective channels on different ones of the sections 14, 22, 24. The brace is slideably received in the channels of both of the two keepers in the deployed mode and slideably removed from the channel of at least one of the keepers in the stowed mode as shown by left and right skis 1 respectively in FIG. 1A.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 5, there is a first forward section 22, a second center section 14, and a third rearward section 24. Each of the three sections has at least one keeper 12. The brace 6 may be a first brace of a plurality of braces in which at least one of the braces 6 is supported in the keepers 12 of the first and second sections 22, 14, and at least another of the braces 6 is supported in the keepers 12 of the second and third sections 14, 24 when the ski or snow shoe is in the deployed mode. More sections could be applied with respective keepers 6 and braces for spanning interposed hinge areas. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 5, each section 14, 22, 24 is shown with a pair of keepers disposed generally opposite each other on outer lateral edges of the sections. The locking mechanisms 4 are each shared by at least two sections. Thus, the locking mechanisms 4 each have a plurality of pairs of keepers. In the example embodiment shown, each of the braces 6 is generally U-shaped, and each end of the brace is slideably supported in a respective one of a pair of the plurality of pairs of keepers.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a full length folding ski 67 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. This ski 67 may be a cross-country ski or simply have a typical alpine ski length. Multiple ski sections such as more than three are incorporated to achieve a longer length ski. Mounting holes 18 are used to mount the mounting plate 26, 36 to the full length folding ski 67. Hinge areas 70 and 73 are hinge areas in additional to hinge areas 2, 3, which are similar to the hinge areas described above. Additional hinge areas with their respective hinges enable folding of addition sections of the ski 67. In the example of FIG. 6, the ski 67 has five sections 76, 79, 81, 84, and 87. The sections are folded on to one another similar to that which has been describe, thus shortening the length of the ski 67 substantially when it is moved into the stowed configuration. In this way, the ski 67 is made to away allow the folded or stowed configuration to be very compact.

FIG. 7A is a top plan view of a foldable ski 90 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention. However, the foldable ski 90 has hinge areas 92, 93 that may be structurally similar to the hinge areas 2, 3 of FIGS. 1A-6. In fact, details of the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-7C may be applied to the embodiments of FIGS. 1A-6 and vice versa without limitation. For example, respective pivot housings 96, 96 may provide receiving and holding structure for pivot axles (shown in FIG. 7C) forming pivot axes of the hinge areas 92, 93. These pivot housings 96, 99 provide the correct dimensions in the length direction to permit the a front section 102 and a rear section 105 to fold into substantially parallel mutually overlying relation to each other and a center section 108, as has been described with regard to the embodiments above. These pivot housings 96, 99 may be of similar material to the material of the sections 102, 105, 108 and may have knuckles or interleaving portions 111 with transverse or laterally extending through holes. These interleaving portions 111 on the pivot housings 96, 99 are configured to interleave with interleaving portions 114 on the sections 102, 105, 108 between which the pivot housings 96, 99 lie. The interleaving portions 114 of the sections also have transverse through holes that align with the through holes (shown in FIG. 7C) in the interleaving portions 111 of the pivot housings 96, 99. Thus, pins or pivot axles may be inserted through both sets of interleaving portions 111, 114 and form a double hinge in each hinge area 92, 93. It is to be understood that pivot housings, interleaving portions, and pivot axles as described herein may be applied to each of the hinge areas 2, 3, of the foldable ski of FIG. 1A including the region 7A.

As shown in FIG. 1A (region 7A) and FIG. 7A, the hinge areas 3 and 93 are in a locked mode with a brace 117 and the brace 6 in locked positions. In FIG. 7A, a retaining mechanism includes a locking element in the form of a tab 120. As shown in the detailed perspective view of FIG. 7B, the tab 120 can be mounted to an upper surface of the ski 90 by a base 123. Tabs 120 may be formed of foam or other material, and may be coupled to the ski 90 by adhesive and/or hardware including screws, rivets, etc. The tab 120 may have a protrusion 126 with a slot 129 for receiving a central portion of the brace 117 in a snap fit or friction fit engagement. Thus, the tab 120 acts to retain the brace 117 in a locking configuration inhibiting back and forth movement of the brace 117 disposed in respective keepers 12, as shown in FIG. 7A.

The braces may have an upturned portion in a central region and/or a fabric tab 130 acting as handle(s) to facilitate grasping the brace 117 during locking and unlocking of the foldable skis 90. Once in the locked position, a swivel pin 131, similar to the blocking post described below with regard to FIG. 8, can be swiveled from a slot within an end of the brace 117 to further inhibit inadvertent movement of the brace 117 in a retracting direction. When the ski 90 is moved into its stowed mode, tabs 133 inhibit the brace from sliding completely out of the keepers 12 and inhibit the braces 117 from becoming separated from the ski 90. These details are applicable to the other embodiments just as the details of the other embodiments can be incorporated into any combination with each other or the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-7C without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The pivot housings 96, 99 also have respective intermediate keepers 132 that abut the keepers 12 on the sections on each side of the pivot housings 96, 99, receive the braces 117, and provide increased strength when the ski is in the locked, deployed configuration.

FIG. 7C is a side view of the foldable ski 90 of FIG. 7A showing further details of the hinge areas 92, 93 with their respective housings 96, 99 and pivot axles 135. As shown, the pivot axles 135 extend through the through holes 138 in outer interleaving portions 111 of the pivot housings 96, 99 and through the other through holes described above to form the plural hinges of the hinge areas 92, 93. As may be appreciated, upper portions of the pivot housings 96, 99 form the intermediate keepers 132, which abut the keepers 12 over a relatively large area and receive the braces 117 therethrough. The material forming the keepers 117 may include foamed polycarbonate and/or other material that can be molded integrally or otherwise attached to the rest of the ski for high strength. As with the other embodiments, when the braces 117 are unlocked from the tabs 120 and withdrawn from the locking position within the keepers 12, 132, the front an rear sections 102, 105 can be collapsed or folded such as in a direction of arrows 141, 144 shown in FIG. 7C.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the axle 16 for pivotally connecting the binding platform to the ski. As shown, the axle 16 may have a head 153 on one end and a blocking post 156 on an opposite end thereof. A spring 159 pushes against the head 153 to urge the axle 16 in a retracting direction relative to flanges 29, 61. Thus, in order to secure the axle in the holes 18, the user aligns the blocking post 156 with the axle and inserts it through a first flange 29, 61, the pivot mount 64 of the binding platform 26, 36, and a second opposite flange 29, 61. The user presses the head toward the first flange 29, 61 until the blocking post 156 extends past the second flange. The user then pivots the blocking post 156 to an orientation transverse to the axle 16 and releases pressure on the head 153. The spring biases the axle in the retracting direction and causes the blocking post 156 to stoppingly engage an outer surface of the second flange such that the axle is inhibited from inadvertent removal from the flanges 29, 61.

It is to be understood that the hinges in the hinge areas between sections of the folding skis may include any of a variety of hinges such as living hinges, knuckle hinges, etc.

The axle for pivotally connecting the binding platform to the ski, the hinge pins, the braces, and other components may be formed of steel rod. For example, the braces may be formed of one quarter inch steel rod material to provide high strength and rigidity to the locking mechanisms.

The adjustable mounting plates or binding platforms in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention are capable of being adjusted by lengthening or shortening to accommodate a wide range of footwear sizes. The binding platforms may have any of a variety of straps attached thereto to retain the footwear on the platform. It is to be understood that the mounting plate may also have traction on its bottom side in order to engage the snow or ice. The traction may be provided by structure that is integral to or added onto the binding platform. Furthermore, the adjustable binding platforms may be applied to skis, snowboards, and/or snowshoes without limitation.

Although the skis have been described herein as having retaining mechanisms including tethers for holding the braces in one of a locked and an unlocked position, other retaining mechanisms may alternatively or additionally be incorporated. Additionally, stow locking mechanisms may be provided for a holding our retaining the skis and stowed configuration.

Any of a variety of materials may be utilized in forming the complements of the skis, platforms, locking mechanisms, retaining mechanisms, etc. In some embodiments cost savings are achieved through selection of less expensive manufacturing processes and materials. For example, the skis in accordance with some embodiments may be manufactured in an inexpensive mass production method in which each section is formed as a single molded piece. In other embodiments more complex construction may be undertaken such as providing metal edging, layered with, complex fibers, resins, clues, etc. plastics, carbon fibers, metal, and or wood may be used to form any of the various complements.

The following operations set forth with regard to the method indicate a logical flow or order in accordance with one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the described method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps described.

A method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes one or more of the operations set forth in the summary of the invention. Other operations may further be included in accordance with the disclosure of such operations in one or more of the embodiments described herein. Additionally, the method and apparatus may include attaching footwear to the ski with or without a binding platform and attachment mechanisms for doing so. Furthermore, the method includes one or more of climbing and gliding over snow or ice, and utilization of associated elements that facilitate such climbing and gliding. For example the method may include attaching a directional skin or other traction element to a lower surface of the ski. Traction elements may be attached to other structure on or associated with the ski.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

1. An apparatus for traversing ice and snow, the apparatus comprising: a collapsible body having a bottom surface for traversing ice and snow covered terrain and a top surface for supporting a user on the ice or snow; at least two hinge areas, the body divided into at least three sections by the at least two hinge areas; and at least two separate locking mechanisms on the body proximate to the at least two hinge areas, the locking mechanisms configured to hold the at least two hinge areas in a deployed mode with the sections aligned with each other when locked and to release the two hinge areas in a collapsed mode enabling the sections to be stowed in a mutually overlying configuration when unlocked.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a ski having a deployed length in the deployed mode and a collapsed length in the collapsed mode, the collapsed length being less than or equal to approximately 45% of the deployed length.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a deployed length in the deployed mode and a collapsed length in the collapsed mode, the collapsed length being less than or equal to approximately 33% of the deployed length.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the hinge areas comprises a floating hinge, each floating hinge having at least two pivot axes.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable attachment mechanism coupled to the top surface for adjustably attaching footwear to the top surface of the apparatus.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the adjustable attachment mechanism has a mounting platform releasably coupled to the top surface of the apparatus, the mounting platform configured to secure footwear to the apparatus.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first keeper having a first channel disposed on the top surface on a first section of the three sections of the body; a second keeper having a second channel disposed on the top surface on a second section of the three sections of the body; an inflexible moveable locking brace configured to slideably engage the first channel and the second channel by spanning one of the hinge areas.
 8. A system for selectively deploying and stowing a device for traversing snow or ice, the system comprising: a body comprising a plurality of sections movable between a deployed mode forming a ski or snow shoe and a stowed mode in which the sections are collapsed into overlying relation relative to each other; at least one releasable locking mechanism fixing at least one of the sections relative to another of the sections in the deployed mode; and a binding mounting mechanism disposed on a front half of the body on at least one of the sections when the sections are in the deployed mode.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the binding mounting mechanism has a plurality of binding position elements, the binding position elements configured for pivotally coupling footwear at a plurality of positions generally corresponding to the binding position elements along the body, wherein the plurality of binding position elements are positioned on the front half of the body in the deployed mode.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the binding mounting mechanism is an adjustable binding mounting mechanism disposed on at least one of the sections, the binding mounting mechanism configured to adjustably support a binding platform in one of a plurality of mounting positions.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the adjustable binding mounting mechanism is disposed on two of the sections.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the adjustable binding mounting mechanism comprises a pair of upwardly protruding flanges having respective sets of holes in the flanges for selectively supporting the platform.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the sets of holes pivotally support the platform.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the platform has at least one strap attached thereto for engaging hard or soft shelled footwear
 15. The system of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one brace and at least two keepers forming respective channels on different ones of the sections, wherein the brace is slideably received in the channels of both of the two keepers in the deployed mode and slideably removed from the channel of at least one of the keepers in the stowed mode.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein: the plurality of sections includes at least a first section, a second section, and a third section; each of the first, second, and third sections has at least one keeper; and the brace is a first brace of a plurality of braces in which at least one of the braces is supported in the keepers of the first and second sections and at least another of the braces is supported in the keepers of the second and third sections when the ski or snow shoe is in the deployed mode.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein: the locking mechanism has a plurality of pairs of keepers; and the brace is generally U-shaped and each end of the brace is slideably supported in a respective one of a pair of the plurality of pairs of keepers.
 18. A method of using a collapsible device for traversing snow or ice, the method comprising: unfolding at least three sections of a ski or snow shoe; and locking the at least three sections in an aligned, generally rigid, deployed configuration.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises coupling footwear to the device at a position in a front half of the device.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein coupling footwear further comprises adjustably coupling a binding platform to one of a plurality of binding mounting elements on the front half of the device.
 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising: unlocking and folding the three sections into a compact stowed configuration; wherein the folding comprises moving the sections and forming the compact stowed configuration with the sections in generally parallel, overlying relation to each other and having a length less than approximately 45% of a length of the device in the deployed configuration. 